International Consultant on Economic Valuation of Ecosystem Services (UNDP-UNEP Poverty - Environment Initiative)

The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) joint Poverty Environment Initiative (PEI) in the Republic of Armenia aims to contribute to poverty reduction and improved well-being of poor and vulnerable groups through mainstreaming the environment into national development processes.

A key issue identified during the August 2010 scoping mission as being of great importance to poverty reduction and better informed environmental decision making is the economic valuation of ecosystem services (ES) in terms of their influence on human-well being. Such valuation provides policy makers with critical information that facilitates environmentally sustainable decision making. Independent expertise in that field is needed in order to provide scientific based, neutral evidence and information to various stakeholders, facilitate discussions, common understanding and build consensus among conflicting views on economic growth, environment and poverty reduction

A PEI Technical Assistance project (TA) has been prepared together with UNDP Country Office in Armenia and will seek to achieve this by strengthening the knowledge base and capacity at the national, provincial and local levels on the links between ecosystem services - the purview of many multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) and development.

The Ministry of Nature Protection has been requested by decree to establish an Interagency Working Group to develop a draft Code on Environment Protection” (further called Interagency Working Group) under the chairmanship of the First Deputy Minister of Nature Protection and needs immediate expertise to assess value of environmental goods and services (Activity 1.3 and 1.8 of the Second NEAP).  PEI TA will work with this Interagency Working Group and a National Group of Independent Experts which will be formed within the PEI TA project in order to provide scientific based, neutral evidence and information to various stakeholders, facilitate discussions, common understanding and build consensus among conflicting views on economic growth, environment and poverty reduction.

The TA project including the International Consultant will be directly supervised by the UNDP and UNEP PEI Regional Team and UNDP Country Office of Armenia.

The TA objective will be achieved through a learning-by-doing approach whereby a pilot study selecting and using the appropriate methodology of economic valuation of ecosystem services will be undertaken either locally in a selected ecological hotspot or nationally for a sector, generating knowledge and information that is directly relevant to the elaboration of the next phase Sustainable Development Programme and national poverty reduction processes

The pilot study will focus on ecosystem services in an integrated way, emphasizing on the importance of economic valuations to inform on poverty-reduction and human-well being in general, and ecosystem enhancement policies at the national, provincial and local levels. Special attention should be given to the mining sector activities in Armenia. According to the decision of the Government, the volume of the mining industry will increase twofold in upcoming 3 to 5 year time period. The expected significant growth of Armenia's mining sector means a further rise in ecosystem disruptions. The research activities will be led by the National Group of Independent Experts, with an active involvement of the Ministry of Nature Protection, other relevant ministries and agencies, academic, business sectors and civil society organizations. The activities will encompass significant capacity building and institutional strengthening, thereby ensuring the long term sustainability of activities following the completion of TA.

UNEP and UNDP PEI is calling for a part time consultant for 12 months to provide support to the implementation of the Economic Valuation Project in Armenia.

Objectives of the Assignment:

The overall objective of the consultancy is to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and competence to the National Group of Experts in particular, and to other key stakeholders from the government, academic, business and civil society sectors in Armenia on ecosystem services valuation methodologies and practices, as well as policy-making with a focus on human well-being, poverty reduction and ecosystem degradation. 
The specific objectives of the consultancy are to:

• Act as a mentor and key technical resource person for the National Group of Independent 
  Experts;
• Indentify and overview the best international practices for ES valuation and draft recommendations on choices relevant to Armenia’s objectives;
• Lead, facilitate and/or coordinate the design the methodology and conduct the pilot study (land use sectors- agriculture and mining), together with the Expert Group and additional technical resources;
• Provide written recommendations for integration of the pilot study results into national and eventually sub-national development programmes, strategies and legislative framework, including upcoming new Code for environmental protection;
• Facilitate communication between relevant stakeholders and partner institutions working in similar research in Armenia to enhance collaboration and synergies with transferring research results and environmental economic information to policymakers;
• Provide technical oversight and review of pilot study design, data collection, economic analysis and review case study report to ensure high-quality analytical standards and rigor;
• Support the development of communications materials for sharing information from the research to a wider audience, particularly policymakers and planners.

The International Consultant’s main responsibility is to build a national expertise on economic valuation of ecosystem services by mentoring and providing technical guidance to the National Group of Experts and bridging the gap between theory and practice.

The specific duties, tasks and responsibilities of the Consultant are as follows:

Through desk review, the Consultant will:

• Review worldwide practices on ES valuation and their influence on human-well being;
• Review country’s legal, regulatory, policy, planning, budgeting and institutional context for ecosystem services and implication of economic instruments in environment sector
• Review the relevant material on environmental sustainability and poverty reduction (reports on agriculture, forest, waters, mining, development and other strategic documents)
• Prepare a preliminary assignment work plan with the narrative description of all tasks (including for experts ) need to be submitted prior to the first country mission and final plan that will be submitted after the first mission to the country.

The Consultant will perform the following duties both in the country and at home:

• Meet with senior officials from the Ministry of Nature Protection, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Labor and Social Issues to discuss the economic valuation process, the ecosystem services that laws/regulations, policies, programmes depend on and affect, and explore options for its implementation.
• Assist UNDP-UNEP PEI RT, UNDP CO and, upon necessity,  the Interagency Working Group under the chairmanship of the First Deputy Minister of Nature Protection” to establish a National Group of Independent Experts with TORs for each expert and modalities for monitoring and assessing skill development;
• Facilitate a consultative process (i) to explain the principles and practice of economic valuation of ecosystem services, and (ii) to identify needs and priorities related to the economic valuation approach of ecosystem services, to screen the most relevant services and agree on the main parameters of the pilot study design;
• Assist the Expert Group to create a mechanism for experts' team to interact regularly with the Interagency Working Group to keep the MNP partners informed and involved;
• Based on the results of the consultation process, assist the National Group of Experts to develop a detailed pilot study work plan and budget with inputs of relevant Government agencies, academic, business and civil society institutions at the national and local level; 
• Identify and define appropriate economic valuation methodology to be used in the pilot study in collaboration with, and to be agreed by, the Experts’ Group, the Interagency Working Group, UNDP-UNEP PEI RT and UNDP CO;
• As part of economic valuation methodology, design and conduct a strategic planning session with the National Group of Experts and key ministry planners to identify potential development scenarios and determine range of development options in line with the country Sustainable Development Programme;
• Conduct a hands-on training workshop on economic valuation of ecosystem services for the National Group of Experts and pilot study research partners aiming to build their know-how for the pilot study;
• Act as primary technical resource person for the Economic Valuation pilot study;
• Guide the National Group of Experts and the research team to adopt the most appropriate indicators, methods and tools for data collection, major drivers for change, quantitative and qualitative assessment of values and trade-offs regarding economic value of ecosystem services in the pilot study;
• Assist the National Group of Experts in the analysis of economic, social and environmental valuation of ecosystem services related to the pilot study and ensure quality control;
• Assist the National Group of Experts to write the different chapters and draft report of the pilot study;
• Support the National Group of Experts to fine tune scenarios for the new Sustainable Development Programme and determine range of development options as well as tools for assessment of ecosystem services for the Code on “Environment Protection” to be prepared by the Ministry of Nature Protection (Activity 1.3 and 1.8 of the Second NEAP)
• Review the draft and final Economic Valuation Study Report in line with comments of the consultation process to ensure technical rigor and quality control;
• Facilitate a final workshop to present results of the pilot study to a wider audience, with the objective of increasing knowledge of Government focal points about the importance of integrating environment values in decision-making and development planning processes.
• Facilitate the process of transferring the pilot study results into recommendations for national development planning processes and for the elaboration of the Code on Environmental Protection, as well as for amendments in other legal acts upon necessity.
• Facilitate the elaboration of easy friendly materials and the establishment of a communication platform between relevant stakeholders and partner institutions working in similar research in Armenia (and potential other countries of the ECIS region) to enhance collaboration and synergies with transferring research results and environmental economic information to policymakers.
• Modify methodology for economic valuation of ecosystem services based on the pilot activities for mandatory implementation across the country.

Duration of Assignment, Duty Station and Expected Places of Travel:

The duration of the assignment is about 60 days over approximately 12 months; the consultant is expected to perform the tasks from home base and during the missions to Armenia. Tentatively, the consultant is expected to start by January 5 (the exact start date will be agreed with the selected candidate). 

Deliverables and Payment Schedules:

Deliverables will address the tasks specified in Section “Duties and Responsibilities”:

Before the first mission:

• Draft work plan following the desk review;

For the first mission and onwards:

• Brief mission report;
• TORs of Expert Group members and modalities to monitor and assess their skill development;
• Consultation document presenting (i) economic valuation of ecosystem services, (ii) discussion options for focus areas and pilot study design, and (iii) results of the consultation process;
• Detailed work plan and budget for the pilot study along with methodological approach for the economic valuation;
• Hands-on methodological guide on the most appropriate indicators, methods and tools for data collection, major drivers for change, quantitative and qualitative assessment of values and trade-offs, risks and opportunities regarding economic value of ecosystem services in the pilot study to be used by the National Group of Experts;
• Practical training workshop module on economic valuation of ecosystem services for the National Group of Experts and pilot study research partners aiming to build their know-how for the pilot study;
• Draft report detailing the methodologies for economic valuation of ecosystem services used in the pilot study , results of the analysis and economic valuation with information on scenarios for the new Sustainable Development Programme and range of development options as well as tools for assessment of ecosystem services for the by-laws on “Environment Protection” to be prepared by the Ministry of Nature Protection
• Final report of the economic valuation of ecosystem services performed in Armenia integrating comments of the various stakeholders;
• Policy brief on results of Economic Valuation Study with recommendations for their integration in the planning and policy making processes targeted to policymakers
• Production of a user friendly compendium with training modules, pilot study reports, ES valuation guide adapted to Armenia and a brief of policy recommendations for the Code and policy / strategy / programme makers in Armenia;
• Overall concept of the interactive website for ES valuation experts and stakeholders;
• Final workshop module to present the final report, user friendly materials and the policy brief to the Interagency Working Group and to key stakeholders of the academic, business and civil society sectors.

The sequence of tasks and deliverables is tentative. Final description of tasks and deliverables, including the timeframe, will be agreed between the international consultant, PEI Regional Team and UNDP Armenia office before the issuance of the contract. Tentative schedule and payment conditions for the above-mentioned deliverables are given as follows:

• First installment, upon submission and acceptance of all deliverables of the first mission;
• Second installment, upon submission and acceptance of the draft report following the second mission; and
• Final installment upon submission and acceptance of final report, user friendly materials and policy brief

Travel related costs will be reimbursed by the UNDP–UNEP ECIS PEI regional budget in addition to the agreed lump-sum fee in accordance to UNDP rules and regulations.

Quality of all deliverables mentioned above will have to be approved by both UNDP CO and UNDP–UNEP PEI regional team prior to paying the agreed amount. Consultant’s fee may be reduced, or contract with him terminated, if the deliveries will not be of sufficient quality or will not be submitted within the agreed time-frame (this will not apply in case the delay is caused not by the consultant but external factors the consultant is not in a position to influence). 

• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to establish and maintain effective work relationships with people of different social and cultural backgrounds;
• Strong track record with producing high quality research and strong quantitative skills in econometrics, cost-benefit analyses and simulation/ scenario modeling. Knowledge of spatial economics is an advantage
• Excellent writing skills, with peer reviewed articles or policy working papers on topic produced required
• Excellent coordination and collaboration skills, with ability to work under pressure and handle multiple activities and projects concurrently,
• Ability to work independently and to participate effectively in a team based information sharing
• Excellent computer literacy 

Education/Academic qualification:

• Advanced University degree (MSc, MA or PhD) in Ecological/Environmental Economics, or related subject
• Proven knowledge and experience with conducting economic valuation of ecosystem services in relation to sustainable use of natural resource as well as to poverty reduction and human well-being.

Experience:

• At least seven years of experience working in the area of environmental economics and valuation, at the national and/ or international level, particularly in the areas of rural development, poverty reduction, land use and / or environmental or natural resource management required
• At least five years of experience in coaching/mentoring/assisting teams of researchers to get acquainted with, and apply the concepts and methodological tools related to economic valuation of ecosystem services or related themes required
• Proven ability to advocate and negotiate valuation of ecosystem services in policy and planning making with policy and decision makers and budget holders
• Working experience in the CIS region is an asset

Languages:

• Excellent spoken and written English; Russian and/or Armenian an asset

Evaluation of applicants:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal.
The award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
b) having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Only the highest ranked candidates who would be found qualified for the job will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.
Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max. 70 points:

• Criteria A: Background and education – max points: 10
• Criteria B: Experience with conducting valuation of ES (to be evaluated based on P11 and requested samples) - max points: 25
• Criteria C: At least five years of experience in coaching/mentoring/assisting teams of researchers / experts -  max points: 15
• Criteria D: Excellent analytical and writing skills (to be evaluated based on submitted samples) - max points: 20

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max. 30 points

Application procedures:

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain:

• Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position and a brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work (if applicable). Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application.
• Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees 
  (blank form can be downloaded from http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc ); please upload the P11 instead of your CV.
• 2 extracts demonstrating consultant’s previous experience with conducting economic valuation of ecosystem services in relation to sustainable use of natural resource as well as to poverty reduction and human well-being.
• Financial Proposal* - specifying a total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this announcement. The financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (number of anticipated working days and any other possible costs except of travel expenses).
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials

*Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee, health insurance, vaccination and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...). Travel expenses associated with travel to Yerevan and field trips to pilot study sites is to be covered separately.  

Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.

Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org
General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://europeandcis.undp.org/home/jobs

Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply.

Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.